When Daria exclaimed, "Something stinks in here," her teacher became annoyed and sent her to the office for a paddling. In her interview with Paula Flowe, Daria described how the principal placed a book on his desk and told her to put her hands on either side of it, and point her nose at the book. He warned her not to turn her head or he would hit her on the hand.

Daria described how she felt with two big men -- the paddler and the witness -- standing in back of her with the office door closed. She said, "I felt like I could get raped."

The paddling left Daria with bruises on her buttocks and severe pain in the lower back that lasted for several days.

Daria was paddled on three other occasions during this school year -- once for tardiness and twice because she forgot to bring documents to school signed by her mother.

"...Schools are often perceived by parents as bearers of cultural norms concerning proper child rearing practices and discipline. Hence, when schools and other child care settings employ practices not conducive to optimal child development, e.g., corporal punishment and other demeaning and threatening, negative disciplinary measures, they convey a subtle message to parents, namely that such measures are appropriate, as they are sanctioned by education authorities and 'experts'..."

From "Violence Against Children," by David G. Gill, Professor of Social Policy, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.

The worst of all bad habits (If this or any other PDF page fails to open due to a pop-up blocker on your system, hold down the "Ctrl" button and click the link again.) Photographs of schoolchildren's paddling-related injuries and an open letter to educators and education policymakers in paddling districtsWARNING - These images may be deeply disturbing to some viewers. Do not open this page if children are present.